Three Rising Grain Processing Professionals Earn a Trip to GEAPS Exchange
Image courtesy of GEAPS.
Three grain processing professionals will head to GEAPS Exchange 2026 with full access to industry education, networking, and career-enhancing opportunities after being selected as this year’s IOMSA Golden Ticket award winners.
The program provides complimentary full registration and a $500 travel stipend to the award winners who are eager to expand their technical knowledge and industry network.
2026 IOMSA Golden Ticket Award Winners:
• Kevin Heiden, Shipping and Receiving Supervisor, Zeeland Farm Services – Ithaca, Ithaca, MI
• Ben Schlatter, Facility Engineering Intern, Scoular, and Feed-Mill Operator, Midland Marketing Cooperative, Hays, KS
• Adam Kopachek, Inventory Manager, CHS Inc. – Global Grains and Processing, Mankato, MN
Recipients were selected through a competitive application process that evaluated professional experience, commitment to continued learning, and interest in advancing within grain processing operations. Continued for its second year, the IOMSA Golden Ticket aligns with the returning Processing track of education.
John Caupert, GEAPS CEO, is excited about how GEAPS is once again working to bring more processing professionals together at Exchange.
“There is a major transformational shift happening right now with the flow of grain,” said Caupert. “In this shift, the grain processing sector is seeing evolving demand, policies, and technologies creating new possibilities for growth. GEAPS Exchange is where the conversations shaping the future of grain processingare taking place.”
The three winners will be recognized onsite at Exchange on Sunday, February 22nd following the Grain Processing Leadership Panel Innovation Station taking place at 3:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m.